Review: Studiologic Numa Player – Free Piano-VST

Most piano enthusiasts are probably familiar with Studiologic. Their controller keyboards are among the best on the market, known for their outstanding keybeds and well-focused feature sets that appeal to a wide range of users. In keeping with its controller keyboard line, the free Studiologic Numa Player VST and iOS app adopt the four-zone MIDI control concept of the SL Series.

The Studiologic Numa Player takes its name from the manufacturer’s Numa X stage pianos—it not only shares the same core architecture but also makes the hardware’s sounds available for use in music software. While it’s unclear whether the plugin replicates the exact sounds of the Numa X keyboards, it still offers an impressive selection of high-quality sounds and features—all for free.

The Studiologic SL MIDI controllers are not required to use the Studiologic Numa Player—the plugin, available as a VST for Windows and macOS or as an iOS app, works with any music computer and MIDI keyboard.

You don’t even need a DAW, as the Numa Player runs as a standalone application on both Windows and macOS. The same applies to iOS devices, where you can integrate it into music programs like Kymatica AUM and use it alongside other apps.

→ Studiologic SL MIDI controllers at a glance.

Studiologic Numa Player: Basic Structure

The Numa Player is built around four independent sound sections, each of which can be assigned a different sound. You can layer up to four sounds simultaneously, allowing you to play them all together with a single keystroke on a controller. Each section has its own dedicated volume control, making it easy to balance and mix the sounds.

The free plugin also supports split configurations, as each of the four sections can be assigned to a specific keyboard range. This allows only one instrument to play per section.

This structure closely mirrors that of the SL Series MIDI controllers, which is why the app instantly recognizes and adapts to them. This integration is seamless for an intuitive playing experience.

Many Sounds – Focus on Keyboard Instruments

The sound library of the Studiologic Numa Player is based on the core selection of keyboard and digital piano sounds and is divided into four categories. The “Acoustic Pianos” category features two grand pianos, an upright piano, and the Yamaha CP-70—which, although not an acoustic instrument, is of course a piano.

Moving on, the “Electric Pianos” category includes vintage classics such as various Rhodes and Wurlitzer presets, along with four FM synthesis sounds inspired by the Yamaha DX7.

The “Keys” category offers Clavinet, harpsichord, and accordion, as well as percussion instruments like marimba and vibraphone. Last but not least, the “Strings & Pads” category provides a selection of string ensembles and synth pads.

Effects at the Instrument and Master Level

For those who want to take their sounds and presets to the next level, the Numa Player offers nine effects to explore. In addition to a 3-band EQ, users can enhance their sound with chorus, phaser, flanger, tremolo, ping-pong delay, wah-wah, compressor/limiter, and distortion.

Finally, the Master tab offers four global effects that apply to all selected instruments or layers within the stereo mix. These include an additional delay, a reverb, as well as a second 3-band EQ and a multiband compressor at the final stage of the signal chain.

The Sound of the Numa Player

The Studiologic Numa Player delivers impressive sound quality across the board, offering highly realistic instrument sounds. The acoustic piano in the first example has a character reminiscent of the Nord pianos, while the digital piano in the second example comes remarkably close to the original.

For this Rhodes sound, I assigned the tremolo speed to the modulation wheel, creating a Leslie-like effect similar to what you’d hear on a Hammond organ. Can you hear the Rhodes pulsing at different speeds?

The instruments in the Keys category are also excellent, often nearly indistinguishable from the originals, such as the Marimba, Harpsichord, Celesta, and Clavinet presets in the third sample.

The string and synth sounds in the last category are of slightly lower quality, but this is common in keyboards and digital pianos with built-in sound engines.

Conclusion: Great Sounds and High-Quality Effects

It’s hard to believe that the Studiologic Numa Player is available for free. This VST plug-in and piano app is a fantastic option for anyone who loves classic keyboard sounds. As a keyboardist, you’ll frequently need many of the included sounds—and they impress with their realism and quality.

The layer mode allows for a wide range of sound combinations, further enhanced by high-quality effects. Meanwhile, the split function makes it a practical choice for live performance.

With the recent release of version 2.0, the Numa Player now supports multi-core CPUs, significantly increasing polyphony while reducing latency—an advantage whether you’re playing at home, in the studio, or on stage.

An absolute must-have! What are you waiting for?

Studiologic Numa Player – Overview

Platforms: Standalone for Windows 10 and later, macOS 10.13 and later, and iOS 12 and later; available as a plug-in in VST3, AU2, and AU3 formats.
System requirements: 4 GB RAM minimum
Storage: 250 MB free disk space
Manufacturer/Distributor: Studiologic / B4 Distribution

Download and Installation

The Studiologic Numa Player is ready to use in just a few clicks—after creating a mandatory but free account on the manufacturer’s website. The installation process is straightforward:

• Create a free account at studiologic-music.com if you haven’t already.
• Visit the Numa Player product page (studiologic-music.com/products/numaplayer/), click the Download button, and select your operating system.
• Run the installation.
• No additional registration is required.
• Open your DAW and run a plug-in scan, or launch Numa Player as a standalone application.

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